The Executive Email Carpet Bomb Worked Wonders On Verizon

Happy news is the best — especially when it means that Consumerist has helped someone resolve a problem satisfactorily (pause to pat self on back). Such was the case for reader Tony, who was running into problems with his BlackBerry Storm. He wrote in to thank us (aww) and pass on his tale of triumph over Verizon.

Tony wasn’t wise to data plans when he got his first smart phone, but after careful consideration, says he went with an unlimited data plan for $44.99. Then recently, he was reevaluating his calling plan, when he saw two unlimited data plans on the site, one for $44.99 and the other, $29.99. He chatted online with a customer service rep, who determined that he had been set up with the business plan and not the cheaper personal plan. At the store, he’d only been offered the more expensive data plan.

The online rep suggested he contact customer service over the phone to obtain a refund for the difference in plans. When he did, he was told he’d only get credit for that month, and that “should have noticed it sooner.” So it was his fault for not catching them at overcharging him, not Verizon’s fault for overcharging.

Okay so it goes on and it’s pretty exhausting, and he only got offered four months’ credit, so he agreed to get off the phone after 45 minutes. Disgruntled, Tony got on Consumerist and did some searching and found the email addresses for corporate reps at Verizon, and proceeded to send out an Executive Email Carpet Bomb, or EECB, complaint letter.

Cut to a happy ending for Tony!

Less than 12 hours later, I received a call from Verizon from a lovely lady who not only apologized for how I was treated, but also gave me the full refund that I had requested.